Wrecking-tool



E. F. BURKE.

WRECKING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, I920.

1,389, 1 83 Patented 30, 1921.

2% EdWardfi'Bur/Zce INVENTOR WITNESS ES WM BY UNITED STATES PATEN TOFFICE. A

EDWARD IF. BURKE, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN M.LICHTY, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

wREoKING-Toon.

Application filed. July 20,

T 0 all whom it may concewt:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sioux City, in the county of'Woodbury and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Wrecking-Tool, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to implements for wrecking frame structures ofall descriptions such as -buildings,'fences, bridges and culverts. v

Objects of the invention are to provide a tool of relatively simpleconstruction, which is easy to operate, which will save material withoutbreaking or otherwise marring it, which will remove all sizes of lumberwith ease and will pull boards or the like on both sides of a joist.

A further object is to provide a wrecker which is quick-acting, theparts automatically returning to their original position after eachdrawing of the boards.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowingdetailed description taken in connection with the accom-.panying drawing forming part of thisspecification, with theunderstanding, however,

that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with theshowing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as suchchanges and modifications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tool in working position,showing a portion of a building in dotted-lines with one of the boardsabout to be drawn from a joist.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the frame or base of the implement. i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the tool with parts in vertical crosssection.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the hooks shown removed from thetool.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lever arm shown by itself.

' The numeral v .10 designates the base or frame proper of the presentimplement, which comprises a flat plate having one end cut away as at 11to save material and reduce the weight of the tool. A pair of hollowsleeves 12 are joined to the upper face of the frame 10 and extendoutwardly from the end Specification of Letters Patent.

of the straight portion'of the hook.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 397,652.

'whichhas the cut-away portion 11 in parallel relation to each other.The length of these sleeves 12 is such that they terminate at. a

point intermediate the ends of the plate. A

ably are joined with the flange 14 to give greater rigidity to thestructure, with the flange 1 1 at right angles to the two plates.Preferably, the plates 13, the flange l land the sleeves 12 are all castintegrally with the frame 10, though these parts may be formedseparately and secured tothe frame in any desirable way.

' A pair of hooks 15 is employed on the present tool. These hooks'eachcomprise a straight shank orportion formed from a flat bar and a returnbend portion 17 parallel to the straight portion and lying in the planethereof. The return bend portion 17 should have a length at least equalto half the length The hooks have heads 16 at their bases and there arejoined with rods 18 extending at right angles to the straight shanks ofthe hooks.

The rods 18 are round in cross section and may be integral with thehooks or removably secured thereto in any desirable way. The

rods 18 each pass through a sleeve 12 and are ate the side edges of theframe, extending at right angles thereto. The plates 13 prefer- 1whereby a cotter pin 20 or similar element may be passed through the rodto prevent the spring 19 from moving the rod 18 out of the sleeve 12. v

The normal position 'of thehooks is that illustrated in Fig. 1, wherethe straight portions of the two hooks lie substantially in the plane ofthe flange 14: of the base, being parallel-to each other at right anglesto the base. In this position, the return bend 17 of the two hooks willlie wholly outside of the base in position to engage with the board.

The two hooks are mainained parallel to each other by means now to bedescribed.

Each hook has a hole 21 provided ata-n 22 passing through the two hooks.A. tubular member 23 surrounds the bolt 22 and has its ends abuttingagainst the inner faces of the hooks. A pair of spacing sleeves 24 aremounted on the tubular member23, and the end of an operating lever isconnected to the two hooks by being mounted upon the tubular member 23between the two spacers 24. I

The lever arm comprises a long arm 25 and a short arm 27, and has a bore26 for receiving a pivotal element 30 passed through the ears 29 ofplates 13. The free end of arm 25 is fashioned into a handle, as shown,while the free end of arm 27 has an elongated arcuate slot 28. Thetubular member 23 is passed through this slot 28 while the spacers 24are of such diameter as to be maintained wholly without the slot duringthe swinging of the lever arm.

As indicated in Fig. 1, when it is desired to remove a plank or boardfrom a frame structure, the hooks are placed with the rcturn bend 17 onthe inside of the board and the bent section of the hooks fitting overthe top or side edge of the board. The flange 14 will then rest againstan adjacent board and the base or frame at the end thereof bearing theflange will also rest against that board, which will provide a base orsupport. Then the lever arm 25 will be swung downwardly, which willcause the two hooks to reciprocate relatively to the base, compressingthe springs 19 and effectively drawing the most stubborn board withoutinjuring the same. As soon as the board is drawn, the two coil springswill return the hooks to their original position, whereupon theimplement will be ready for a second operation. If two boards are joinedto a single joist at their ends, it will be seen that the presentimplement will loosen both ends of the two boards at a single pull. Theimplement is so designed that it operates with a minimum of exertion sothat a boy of twelve may take off boards with ease and yet save thematerial.

What is claimed is i 1. In a wrecking tool, a base or frame, a leverpivotally mounted on the frame, a pulling hook slidably mounted on theframe, means imparting to the hook a normaltendcncy to remain in aposition at one end of the frame and projecting beyond said end wherebythe hook may engage over a board without displacement from its normalposition, and means connecting the hook and lever whereby swinging thelever slides the hook toward the other end of the frame.

2. In a wrecking tool, a base or frame, a-

plurality of parallel sleeves provided on the frame, a plurality of rodsslidable within the sleeves, acoilspring mounted on each rod, ahooksecured to one end of each rod with the spring between the hook andthe inner end of the sleeve, and means for causing travel of the hooksalong the frame against the resistanceof the springs.

3. Ina wrecking tool, a'base or frame, a plurality of parallel sleevesprovided on the frame, a plurality of rods .slidable Within the sleeves,a coil springmounted on each rod, a hook secured to one end of each rodwith the spring between the hook and the inner end of the sleeve, and alever pivotally mounted on the frame andconnected with all the hookswhereby swinging of the lever in one direction pulls the hooks towardthe sleeves against the resistanceof the springs.

4. In a wrecking tool, a base or frame, a flange upstanding from one endof the frame, a hook including a straight portion and a return bendportion substantially parallel to the straight portion slidably mountedon the frame, a spring holding thehook normally in such position thatits straight portion is substantially parallel to the flange with thereturn bend located beyond the end of the frame, and means for movingthe hook inwardly with respect to the frame.

5. In a wrecking tool, a base or frame comprising a flat plate, a pairof spaced ears rising from one face of the plate, a flange upstandingfrom one end of the plate, a pair of hollow sleeves provided on the sameface of the plate as the ears and'end flange, said sleeves projectingbeyond the end of the plate remote from said flange and being parallelto each other but terminating intermediate the ends of the plate, alever pivoted between the cars, a pair of hooks connected to the leverwhereby swinging of the lever slides the hooks along the aforementionedface of the plate, and a pair of rods connected rigidly to the ends ofthe hooks adjacent the plate and slidable within said sleeves.

6. In a wrecking tool, a base or frame comprising a flat plate, a pairof spaced ears rising from one face of the plate, a flangeupstanding'from one end of the plate, a pair of hollow sleeves providedon the same'face of the plate as the ears and end flange, said sleevesprojecting beyond the end of the plate remote from said flange and beingparallel to each other but terminating intermediate the ends of theplate, a lever pivoted between the cars, a pair'of hooks connected tothe lever whereby swinging of the lever slides the hooks along theaforementioned face of the plate, a pair of rods connectedrigidly to theends of the hooks adjacent-theplate and slidable within said sleeves,means to prevent sliding of said rods out of said sleeves and to preventmovement of the hooks along the frame beyond the end having the flange,and means to maintain the hooks normally at said frame end.

7. In a wrecking tool, a frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame,a pair of hooks carried by the frame, means connecting said hooks andthe lever comprisin a bolt joined to both hooks, a tubular mem ermounted on the bolt between the hooks, a pair of spacing elementsmounted on the tubular member one between either side of the lever andthe correspondinghook, said lever having an arcuate slot in one end,said slot receiving the tubular member with the spacing sleeves actingas guides when the lever is swung, and guiding means for the hooksprovided on the frame.

8. In a wrecking tool, a frame, a pair of pulling hooks at one end ofthe frame,

spring-actuated means for connecting the hooks to said frame, anda-lever pivoted to the frame and connected to the hooks, wherebyswinging of the lever actuates the hooks simultaneously toward theframe.

9. In a wrecking tool, a frame, guiding means thereon, a pair of pullinghooks located at one end of the frame, and movable in said guidingmeans, a lever pivoted on the frame and having a long and a short arm,the short arm being connected to the pulling hooks, and resilient meansfor sliding the hooks along the frame.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature.

EDWARD F. BURKE.

